The Blog Dedicated to Educating Golfers about Golf Fitness- from Five Iron Fitness

November 30, 2012

The Anchored Putter Controversy

found on Facebook, sorry, don't know who to give credit

All the talk in the golf world right now is about the proposed new rule, Rule 14-1b, which states "that in making a stroke with any club, players cannot intentionally anchor the club or any part of the body or use their gripping hands to rest against the body."

I copied this from http://www.Golf.com:

Personally, I think it's ridiculous. Why now? I like what one of my clients said, "They are 30 years too late." I think it's unfair to take it away from all of these years. Golfers all all sizes have been learning and developing their game, they have been allowed to use it for so long and now it gets taken away from them. Bernhard Langer is pissed. The four time Champions Tour money list winner has been anchoring his putter to his chest for 15 years said, "If there is anything illegal about it, why did they not stop it right away?" I agree.

If it's such a huge advantage, then how come "none of the players ranked in the top 20 on the PGA Tour in strokes gained putting use a long putter?" (NY Times- http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/29/sports/golf/golf-moves-to-ban-anchored-putting.html)

OK, I get it, 3 of the last 5 Major winners won with long putters, and the number of Tour players using them has increased to 15%, up from 11% last year. But everyone has the opportunity to use them so it's fair in my opinion.

The rule, which would take effect in 2016, is not etched in stone yet as the USGA and the Royal & Ancient would like to get some feedback from the golf community over the next three months. It will certainly be an interesting argument.

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Comments

Sounds absolutely ridiculous, i can't see this one ever going through. As you say, everyone has the opportunity to use them and if it helps people to enjoy their golf a bit more and not have to suffer with yips, etc, then i can't see what the big deal is!